Riverside Municipal Code Ch. 6.08 Regulation of Food Facilities

The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter:

A. Food Facilities shall mean a food facility as defined in Section 113789 of the California Health and Safety Code. These are commonly referred to as restaurants, markets, delis, cafeterias, mobile food facilities, mobile support units, vending machines, and certified farmers' markets. This definition also includes commercial food establishments.

B. Enforcement Officer shall mean the Riverside County Director of the Department of Environmental Health or the City of Riverside Code Enforcement Manager, and their respective designees.

C. od Preparation shall mean food preparation as defined in Section 113791 of the California Health and Safety Code.

D. Official inspection form shall mean the form provided by the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health.

E. Permanent food facility shall mean any food facility as defined by California Health and Safety Code Section 113849.

(Ord. 7529 §4, 2020;Ord. 7341 § 5, 2016; Ord. 6429 § 2, 1998; Ord. 4549 § 1, 1978; Ord. 4487 § 1, 1977; Ord. 4259 § 1, 1976; prior code § 12.1)

A. All permanent food facilities shall be inspected and graded uniformly using an official form. The grade of each food establishment shall be determined by the Enforcement Officer using the scoring method provided on the official inspection form. The grade of each food establishment shall be evidenced by the posting of a grade card bearing the letter, "A", "B" or "C".

1. The letter "A" shall indicate a score of 90 percent or higher, and indicates that the permanent food facility passed the inspection by meeting those minimum health standards as set forth by the State of California in the California Health and Safety Code, Sections 113700, et seq., and interpreted by the Enforcement Officer. Grade "A" Cards shall be printed in blue on high-impact white styrene plastic.

2. The letter "B" shall indicate a score of less than 90 percent, but not less than 80 percent, and indicates that the permanent food facility has not passed the inspection and does not meet minimum health standards. Grade "B" Cards shall be printed in green on high-impact white styrene plastic.

3. The letter "C" shall indicate a score of less than 80 percent, and indicates that the permanent food facility has failed the inspection and has conditions existing which may pose a potential or actual threat to public health and safety. The facility may also be ordered closed, with its permit being suspended or revoked by the Enforcement Officer. Grade "C" Cards shall be printed in red on high-impact white styrene plastic.

B. The grade card shall be provided by the Enforcement Officer and shall be nine inches by 11 inches in size. The grade letter shall not be more than five inches in height.

C. The grade card shall be posted in a conspicuous place selected by the Enforcement Officer, at or near each entrance to the food establishment used by its patrons, and shall be removed only by the Enforcement Officer.

D. It shall be unlawful to operate a food establishment unless the grade card is in place as posted by the Enforcement Officer.

E. Private schools and public schools shall be required to post a grade card.

F. Permanent food facilities which are not engaged in food preparation shall not be required to post a grade card.

(Ord. 7341 § 5, 2016; Ord. 6429 § 2, 1998; Ord. 4259 § 2, 1976; Prior code §§ 12.3, 12.7, 12.8)

A. The Enforcement Officer shall inspect each food facility at regular intervals. all Food Facilities shall comply with those requirements set forth in the California Retail Food Code, as amended and appearing in California Health and Safety Code Sections 113700, et seq.

B. A signed copy of the official inspection form shall be delivered to the owner, operator, or person in charge of the food facility who shall sign in receipt thereof.

C. Any permanent food facility that has received a "B" or "C" grade shall receive a reinspection within five working days of the initial inspection, or as otherwise arranged with the facility operator, to assure that the violations have been corrected. The grade "B" or "C" shall remain posted at the permanent food facility, indicating to the public that the particular Permanent Food Facility failed to maintain minimum health standards during its most recent routine inspection performed by the Department of Environmental Health.

D. If, after a reinspection of the permanent food facility, the score is not 90 percent or higher, any or all of the following legal actions may ensue:

1. Administrative hearing offered for the suspension or revocation of the permit pursuant to Health and Safety Code Sections 114405, et seq.

2. Issuance of a citation.

3. Initiation of civil, criminal or other legal proceedings.

E. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Enforcement Officer may order immediate closure of a food facility pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 114409 whenever the Officer reasonably believes the facility or establishment to present an immediate danger to the public health or safety.

F. Any reinspections following legal actions, other than one reinspection following an initial administrative hearing, will result in the operator being charged an hourly on-site fee.

(Ord. 7341 § 5, 2016; Ord. 6429 § 1998; Prior code §§ 12.3, 12.4)

No person shall operate a food facility without holding a valid permit issued by the Department of Environmental Health. Application for a permit shall be made to the Department of Environmental Health upon a form provided by the Department, and shall be accompanied by a fee as established by resolution of the Riverside County Ordinance No. 640. A permit shall be valid for not more than one year.

(Ord. 7341 § 5, 2016; Ord. 6429 § 2, 1998)

A. Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of an infraction or misdemeanor as hereinafter specified. Such individual shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each day during which any violation of this chapter is committed or allowed to exist.

B. Any individual convicted of a violation of this chapter shall be:

1. Guilty of an infraction and punished by a fine of not less than $50.00, but not to exceed $100.00 for the first offense.

2. Guilty of an infraction and punished by a fine of not less than $100.00, but not to exceed $200.00 for the second offense.

3. The third and any subsequent offense shall constitute a misdemeanor, and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $500.00, but not to exceed $1,000.00 and/or up to six months in the County jail, or both.

C. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a first or second offense may be charged and prosecuted as a misdemeanor.

D. Payment of any penalty herein shall not relieve an individual from the responsibility of correcting the violations as noted on the official inspection report form.

(Ord. 6429 § 2, 1998; Ord. 4487 § 3, 1977)

In addition, any violation of this chapter is hereby deemed to be public health nuisance and may be abated by the Enforcement Officer, irrespective of any other remedy hereinabove provided.

(Ord. 6429 § 2, 1998)

Any person who willfully violates any provision of this chapter, in addition to any criminal penalties, shall be liable for a civil penalty of between $50.00 and $250.00 for each day of violation. The enforcement agency shall be authorized to file and maintain an action in a court of appropriate jurisdiction to collect any such civil penalty arising under this section.

(Ord. 6429 § 2, 1998)

Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 114390, the Enforcement Officer shall have the right to inspect any food facility, or any facility suspected of being a food facility, at any reasonable time. If inspection is refused, the permit may be suspended or revoked, and/or the owner or operator shall be guilty of an infraction or misdemeanor offense.

(Ord. 7341 § 5, 2016; Ord. 6429 § 2, 1998)

In any provision, clause, sentence or paragraph of this chapter, or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions or application of the provisions of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application and, to this end, the provisions of this chapter are hereby declared to be severable.

(Ord. 6429 § 2, 1998)